• Source:JND
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Jonny Bairstow, England's star wicketkeeper-batter is not sure about his place in the team for the role behind the stumps in India.

India will be hosting England for a five-match Test series starting from January 25.

Bairstow played as a wicketkeeper-batter in all six Test matches England played last summer, including one match against Ireland and five in the Ashes.

 

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He is not expected to start with the gloves in India, having faced a tough time behind the stumps with a few dropped catches and missed stumps.

However, the 34-year-old had a great time with the bat, averaging 40.25 in five matches.

After a few blunders early in the Ashes series, Bairstow came up with improvement and went on to end the series with 23 catches under his belt and a stumping as well.

"I've not spoken to anyone about that," Bairstow said in an interview with Sky Sports. "As long as I'm over there, as long as I'm fit and firing, the selection decisions will be taken out of my hands. But look, I'm fairly happy with where I'm at, whether I'm keeping, batting, or whatever it is."

Ben Foakes kept wickets in three of four Tests in England's last tour of India in 2021 and was the first-choice wicketkeeper soon after England began their Bazball regime.

Foakes was recalled for the India tour and will fly to Dubai next week for a training camp with the rest of the team.

"I've been getting my ankle right, just training in the gym pretty hard, catching up with friends and family," Bairstow said. "Having come back from the injury that I had, it was a pretty full-on summer… it's been great to just have a bit of a refresh, have a bit of time with the family and just to make sure the ankle is as good as it can be."

After England's exit from the World Cup, Key implored Bairstow to "get himself into a position where he can go and take on an Indian Test".

"I've been getting my ankle right, just training in the gym pretty hard, catching up with friends and family," Bairstow said. "Having come back from the injury that I had, it was a pretty full-on summer… it's been great to just have a bit of a refresh, have a bit of time with the family and just to make sure the ankle is as good as it can be."

 

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Notably, Bairstow had a tough time in India during the last tour as he made three ducks in four innings, playing the final two Tests of the series on spinning pitches in Ahmedabad.

The first Test of the series between India and England will commence on January 25 and is scheduled to be played in Hyderabad.